Why do we hear a difference in sound quality when a clarinet and a violin play the same note in the same octave?
A)The two musical instruments differ in their higher harmonics.
B)The two musical instruments differ in their fundamental frequency.
C)The clarinet has a larger amplitude than the violin.
D)The violin has a wider phase that the clarinet.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The two musical instruments differ in their higher harmonics. The sound quality of a musical instrument depends not only on its fundamental frequency but also on the higher harmonics present in its sound wave. A clarinet and a violin playing the same note in the same octave will have different higher harmonics present in their sound waves, which is why they sound different from each other.

Why Do We Hear a Difference in Sound Quality When